I Stand With TT

It is tough being a Packers fan during the offseason. In many Packers fans’ minds, Ted Thompson can do no right. This offseason, for instance, plenty complained about losing five free agent contributors. However, when Thompson re-signed Nick Perry, plenty complained about the money in the contract. I don’t believe the team lost THAT much in free agency. I like Eddie Lacy, but he is not irreplaceable. Same with Micah Hyde and J.C. Tretter. Some fans are even still upset about letting Jared Cook go. All Thompson did was go out and significantly upgrade the position. Lastly, T.J. Lang has been a very good guard the past few years, but guards are not worth near $10 million per season. After the release of Josh Sitton before the season, Lane Taylor stepped in and was a solid player. Lang also does not have much time left. He has had significant injuries the past few seasons and it is bound to catch up with him soon.

Last month, the sinking four letter network did an offseason grade article. First off, giving an offseason grade at any point during the offseason, let alone in March, is ridiculous. Anyway, Green Bay was given a C-. They said the Packers had not addressed their two biggest needs, cornerback and running back. First off, running back is the easiest position to fill. Last season, second-year running back Jay Ajayi and rookie Jordan Howard each had great years.....and they were each drafted in the fifth round. Regarding cornerback, the Packers are counting on health and improvement in their third years from Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins. Both players battled nagging injuries in 2016 that impacted their play. Also, the draft is deep and talented at the position. If the Packers drafted one early, having Randall, Rollins, a high draft pick, free agent pickup Davon House and LaDarius Gunter is a solid group of cornerbacks.

Now, I would argue that outside linebacker is the biggest need for the team. Green Bay lost a pair of linebackers in free agency with the departures of Julius Peppers and Datone Jones. I expect Kyler Fackrell to make a jump this year, but the Green and Gold still needs one more. Luckily, the draft is very talented in that department.

Going back to free agency, most think the team ended up worse during the offseason. Lang could end up being the only big loss. Hyde made some nice plays for the team, but he was also a big reason why the team was so poor in pass defense in 2016. The departure of Tretter will be offset by the return of Corey Linsley. The young center battled injuries last year, but had started 29 of the 32 games in his first two seasons. Lacy was a solid running back, but as I mentioned earlier, he is not irreplaceable. With Cook, many people were blinded by the way he played down the stretch. He is a very solid pass catching tight end and Aaron Rodgers played better with him on the field. But make no mistake about it, Martellus Bennett is a major upgrade. The only attribute Cook is better at is speed. Bennett is more sure-handed and is one of the best blocking tight ends in the league.

The most underrated free agent signing for the Packers this year is another tight end, former Wisconsin Badger Lance Kendricks. He is a little slower than Cook, but has better hands. Like Cook last season, it will be interesting to see what the former Wisconsin standout does with a good quarterback throwing him the ball. Kendricks gives Green Bay a major red zone threat for Rodgers. It also gives the Packers a 1-2 punch they have not had at the position since Mark Chmura and Keith Jackson back in the Super Bowl-winning season of 1996. And while many did not like the move due it not being flashy, I like the signing of House. Even though he is not a starter, he will give the Packers much-needed depth at the position, Also, like I have said, this is a deep cornerback draft. They could easily land a starting caliber cornerback in round two.

I like how the offseason has gone so far for the Packers. If you read some places, people make it seem like the sky is falling after losing a few solid free agents. I could see one of last year’s draft picks sliding into guard and replacing Lang. After that, add another key pass rusher and cornerback and the Packers will be all set. Green Bay will also draft a running back, as well as maybe even sign a Jamaal Charles or Adrian Peterson following the draft.

The one thing that people will do no matter what next week is slam Thompson. He likes to look toward the future as well as the present. One scenario that I could see playing out is Green Bay taking a wide receiver in the second round since Davante Adams is a free agent next offseason and there is no way the team keeps three high-priced receivers. And then fans will complain. Thompson knows what he is doing, and I trust him more than the arm chair general managers on social media.